Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Concours d’Elegance — meaning “competition of elegance” — originally referred to horse-drawn carriage parades in Paris. Since cars replaced carriages, the term has been applied to events featuring high-style and high-performance automobiles; two of the most famous take place annually in Lake Como, Italy, and Pebble Beach, California.
Another is the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, founded in 1996 by automotive photographer, journalist and driver Bill Warner. Some 25,000 enthusiasts attend the Amelia, many arriving by private plane or yacht. The 30th edition will be held on Sunday, March 9, at the Golf Club of Amelia Island and the Ritz-Carlton.
Thirteen miles long and four miles wide at most, Amelia is the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a chain also including Hilton Head in South Carolina and Jekyll in Georgia. Part of the Jacksonville metropolitan area, it comprises the communities of Fernandina Beach, Amelia City, American Beach and Franklintown.
The island’s namesake is Princess Amelia, daughter of Great Britain’s George II (grandfather of “Mad” King George), who ruled from 1683 to 1760. Seven flags are said to have flown over Amelia Island in addition to that of the U.S.: French, Spanish, British, Floridian/Patriot, Green Cross, Mexican and Confederate.
Nearly 300 vehicles will compete for awards and accolades at this year’s Amelia, the culmination of a four-day schedule of events.
On Thursday, March 6, the Broad Arrow Auction public preview opens at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. The Amelia’s opening-night Reverie party is that evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. On Friday, March 7, the public preview continues, with part one of the auction from 4 to 7 p.m. Also on Friday: the Eight Flags Road Tour, Hagerty Ride & Drives, a 3 p.m. seminar hosted by NASCAR’s winningest crew chief Ray Evernham and a 7 p.m. screening of docuseries “Back on Track.”
On Saturday, March 8, part two of the auction will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., preceded by a two-hour public preview. Ride & Drive returns from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A second seminar, “Best of 30 Years of The Amelia,” and a Cars & Community family event are set for Saturday morning and the Legends of Speed Dinner for Saturday evening.
Another upcoming event, for the literary-minded, is the Amelia Island Book Festival. The festival gala will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Ritz-Carlton, with the festival itself running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Fernandina Beach Middle School.